Adis Medunjanin and Najibullah Zazi (N.Y.C. Terrorism Trial, 2012)

News about Adis Medunjanin and Najibullah Zazi (N.Y.C. Terrorism Trial, 2012), including commentary and archival articles published in The New York Times.

Chronology of Coverage

Feb. 19, 2015

Abid Naseer, accused terrorist who is representing himself in federal trail, cross-examines government witness Najibullah Zazi, who has admitted to working with Al Qaeda; seeks to undermine government assertion that Naseer and Zazi are close acquaintances who plotted together in failed coordinated attacks in London, New York and Denmark. MORE

Jun. 11, 2013

Michael Powell Gotham column observes that Obama administration, under fire for covert surveillance of phone calls and e-mails of millions, is pointing to 2009 case of Najibullah Zazi, would-be subway bomber arrested in New York City, as justification for sweeping surveillance; holds that it is not clear in Zazi case why government tapped millions of e-mails instead of using court-approved warrants to gather intelligence. MORE

Apr. 19, 2012

Najibullah Zazi continues his testimony against alleged co-conspirator Adis Medunjanin, in federal terrorism trial; Zazi and third man Zarein Ahmedzay have pleaded guilty to charges that they were plotting suicide bombing attacks on New York City subways in 2009; Zazi offers matter-of-fact description of the trio's bomb-making efforts. MORE

Apr. 18, 2012

Najibullah Zazi appears in court to testify in terrorism trial of Adis Medunjanin, accused of helping him in 2009 plot to blow up New York City subways; much of Zazi's testimony echoes that of third man involved in plot, Zarein Ahmedzay, who is also cooperating with the prosecution, but adds details about the radicalization of the trio in Pakistani terrorist training camps. MORE

Apr. 16, 2012

Queens residents Zarein Ahmedzay and Najibullah Zazi plead guilty to planning three separate bomb attacks on the New York City subway system in 2009; third man, Adis Medunjanin, will go to trial in connection with plot described as one of the most serious terrorist threats to the United States since Sept 11; rarely has such a homegrown terrorism plot gone to trial, and event will be closely watched for insight into how the fight against terrorism is being prosecuted. MORE

Feb. 11, 2012

Mohammed Wali Zazi, whose son Najibullah Zazi plotted to set off bombs in the New York City subway system, receives four and a half years in prison for obstructing justice by trying to block a federal investigation of his son; Federal District Court Judge John Gleeson rejects prosecution arguments that the lies were themselves crimes of terrorism, which carry a 30-year sentence. MORE

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Under fire for harvesting the phone calls and e-mails of millions, the Obama administration invoked Najibullah Zazi as an example of the successful use of Internet surveillance. But the claim comes with question marks.